Pittsburgh Chief Scirotto says police department is not in shambles after scathing letter

Responding to a scathing letter from the president of Pittsburgh's police union, chief Larry Scirotto says the bureau is not in shambles or decimated by staffing changes and high visibility patrols Downtown.

Scirotto told KDKA Radio's Marty Griffin if the letter was aimed at improving the police force he would be "more than receptive" to going over the items outlined by FOP President Bob Swartzwelder.

“It was a bunch of bloviating, half-truths that spoke generally with no context,” Scirotto said of the letter.

The union leader also says SWAT officers and traffic patrols are being "decimated" to serve on specialized patrols downtown.

Scirotto said, as an example, one officer has been reassigned from the Tactical Operations Section.

“If that’s decimation, to ensure that we have more personnel Downtown during the business hours, Monday through Friday, keeping Downtown safe or on the South Side . . .
then I guess on officer is decimated,” said Scirotto.

Scirotto and Swartzwelder also differ on the number of officers on the force. The chief says it is 763 while the FOP leader says it is 670.